S88 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [^ov. 2, iSOf. 
Not less noteworthy are the conditions under 
which this peaceful revolution has been achieved. 
The British Government, a Government devoted 
to free trade and to whom a tax on food is as an 
accursed thing, has throughout selected tea for 
exceptional taxation. For three years past tea, the 
average price of which in bond has been about 7d. 
per lb., has been subject to a duty of 6d. per lb. 
Indian and Ceylon planters can claim that they 
have demonstrated the possibility, even under 
adverse circumstances, of producing within the 
limits of the Empire an adequate supply of orie 
necessary of life. An incidental result of their 
efiorts not to be overlooked has been that the 
price of tea in bond has been reduced by about 60 
per cent., so that the whole population has shared 
with the Government in the fruits of our planters' 
enterprise. — Yours faithfully, 
WM, MARTIN LEAKE, Secretary. 
The Ceylon Association in London, 61-62, Grace- 
church-street, E.G., Sept, 21. 
— London Times, Sept. 22. 
THE "VICTORIA REGIA" IN MADRAS. 
AT THE AGEI-HORTICULTURAL GARDENS. 
Xhere is a fine specimen of the Victoria Beqia 
growing in a tank in the nursery gardens. This 
f;igp.ntio aquatic plant was discovered by R H 
Sohomburgh in 1837, on the banks of the Berbice. 
The flOiWer is sometimes as much as a foot in 
diatueter, with several hundred petals, passing in alter- 
nate tints from pure white to rose and pink. It 
passea through three distinct stages in the process of 
expanding, with an interval of a day between each 
stage, and is almost equally beautiful daring each of 
these stages. When perfectly expanded it almost 
immediately dies off. When it first opens it is white 
with pink in the middle, which spreads over the whole 
f ower the more it advances in age. It is generally 
found the uesu day of a pink colour. As if to enhance 
its attractiveness, it is sweet-scented. The leaves are 
from 3 to 6 ft, in diameter, resembling salvers, or 
large ronndtea trays, and resting upon the water. The 
upper surface of the leaf is of » bright green colour 
while the lower is of a vivid Oi.'imson; and presents a 
complicated network of fibres, from which project a 
very formidable array of thorns. Over 40 years ago 
attempts were made to introduce this extraordinary 
plant into Madras but without success. Lady Denison, 
(^mother of Mr A J Denison of Colombo. — Ed. T.A.\ 
while here, planted the Victoria Begia in two separate 
sheets of water in the People's Park, but they did not 
thrive long, and ultimately died, owing it is believed, 
to the water in I he Park being strongly impregnated 
with salt. Beside the specimen in the Horticultural 
Gardens, others have been suooessfuUy grown in 
several private gardens, viz, at Gniudy, at Rutland 
Gate, Nungnmbankam, and at the Priory, Teynarapett. 
The plant is found not to exist, as a rule, more than 
two years, when its plf!,oe must be snpplieri by afresh 
one raised from seed. Thn seeds ;:re i mfitimes v«ry 
long in germinating. O'le instance is iecorded otaflerjd 
germinacing two years and nine months after ii, was 
sown. I have had seeds which have taken 15 months 
to germinate. — M Mail. 
— 
The Consolidated Estates Go. — This 
Company is in a rauch ;-iOU!ider condi- 
tion, but the redeiuptiou of 5 per 
cc'iitof Debentures, at 10.3, prevents a dividend 
being paid ; over £1,050 also is carried for- 
ward, in order to provide for more liberal 
manuring. The crop last year w.ns 100,0001b. 
short and the estimate for 1903 advances 
on it by 118,000 lb. "Other products" yielded 
about i6250 more than expected in 1902, 
GUTTA PEECHA IN NEW GERMAN 
GUINEA, 
The Colonial Economic Committee of Berlin an- 
nounces that the utility of the gutta percha dis- 
covered by the expedition which was undertaken 
to New Guinea under the leadership of Herr 
Schlechter has so far h,e^a established that the 
gutta-percha from the lowlying country may be 
regarded as suitable for cable purposes as an ad- 
mixture, and, if carefully obtained, be fit for cable 
in a pure condition. Large quantities of gutta- 
percha have been obtained from New Guinea, and 
are at present being tested, the Secretary of State 
for the Imperial Post Office having granted a large 
sum of mont.y for the purpose. It is proposed by 
the Colonial Economic Committee to establish a- 
gutta-percha enterprise for the education of the 
native population of New Guinea in the cultivation 
of gutta-percha and its winning. This will take 
the form of afresh expedition under Herr Schlechter 
for a period of three years. Assistance will be 
given by natives of Borneo and others familiar with 
the question of rubber production.— iVaiwre. 
SOLUBLE TEA. 
NOW on sale : APPRECIATED BY LORD 
KITCHENER, AND AT SIMLA. 
We draw attention to the Sale of Soluble 
Tea by the local Syndicate for which Messrs. 
Crosfield Lampard & Co, are Agents. Two 
sample 1 oz. bottles, which hold enough of the 
tea powder extract to make 50 cups, have been 
sent us for trial ; and after experimenting we may 
say that the tea produced is admirable in liquor and 
flavour, while the compactness of the article should 
ensure wide favour. The bottles sent us are well- 
corked and encased in cardboard packets (2 
inches by 1 square) on which appears the intima- 
tion " A pure soluble tea possessing all the best 
properties of tea with a minimum amount of tan- 
nin " and directions : — Put one small saltspoonful 
in a cup, pour on water, add milk and sugar to 
taste. 
The shares of the Company are now selling at, 10 
per cent premium and are likely to rise higher 
as soon as the sale of Soluble Tea gets well started. 
Tea men, of course, are very much against the new 
fledgling ; but the points of advantage, detailed 
in a little booklet sent out with every bottle sold, 
are such as must commead it to the attention of 
every one interested in a portable concentrated 
beverage like this. 
Already a supply has been sent for use in 
Somaliland ; it is likely to make its way in Egypt j 
and Lord Kitchener has been using it and has 
expressed great appreciation of the article during 
his Kiisihmir trip. Ac Simla it has given much 
satisfiii tion and we should not be surprised if the 
Iiulian Military Commi-sariai. Department indent 
for large quautilies. The Company have every 
reason to be pleased with present prospects. 
THE RAT WATTE COCOA CO., LTD. 
THE EP.PORT. 
DiiiECTORs. —Messrs. Gordon Pyper, T 0 Huxley and 
A G.iliiugwood Smiiil. 
Iq pre-ieiititig a siatemeut of the accounts of he 
Company for the yeav euded 30ch June, 1903, the 
Directors bt^g to oongratulato the Shareholders on the 
Dividend-paying stags which the Compatiy hka nowr 
i;eached. The conditions attendSnt Oil the podilc^itiQ 
of crops were favonrable to Oocoa, bnt adverse to Xea. 
